Thermal recording apparatus

Abstract

A thermal recording apparatus capable of preventing in advance a thermo-sensitive recording medium or the apparatus from being excessively heated when the apparatus is defective in operation. When a failure in operation of a polygon mirror is detected by a scanning sensor, when a failure in operation of a motor is detected by an encoder or when jamming or the like of a thermo-sensitive recording medium S is detected by a pair of feed sensors, a controller outputs a malfunction signal to a solenoid. The solenoid, activated at all times, is de-activated by the malfunction signal thereby to cause the shielding plate to cut off a laser beam L. Thus, even if a failure in operation of the thermal recording apparatus is developed, the thermo-sensitive recording medium S and the thermal recording apparatus can be prevented from being excessively heated with the laser beam L.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A thermal recording apparatus for recording an image on a thermo-sensitive recording medium having leuco dyes, a developer and light-absorbing dyes, all provided on a support member, by irradiating the thermo-sensitive recording medium with a laser beam so as to apply predetermined heat energy thereto, moving the laser beam in a direction so as to effect main scanning, moving said thermo-sensitive recording medium in a direction substantially perpendicular to a main scanning direction so as to effect auxiliary scanning, said thermal recording apparatus comprising: main-scanned state detecting means for detecting the state of the main scanning effected on said laser beam;   auxiliary-scanned state detecting means for detecting the state of the auxiliary scanning effected on said thermo-sensitive recording medium for feeding the same;   determining means for determining an abnormality in the operation of said thermal recording apparatus based on detection signals produced by said main scanned state detecting means and said auxiliary scanned state detecting means; and   blocking means for preventing said thermo-sensitive recording medium from being kept irradiated with said laser beam when the operation of said thermal recording apparatus is determined as being in the abnormality.   
     
     
       2. A thermal recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said blocking means comprises shielding means movable to and away from the optical path of said laser beam.